Chapter 24 Cohabitation: "Can't we just talk about it?"
Qin Lan lay there for ages without falling asleep, staring wide-eyed at the sky. Just as she was starting to feel sleepy, there was a sudden movement beside her.
Jiang Yan sat up, looking like she was about to get out of bed.
"Where are you going?" Qin Lan asked in surprise, feeling her way in the dark.
"Huh? Why are you still awake?" Jiang Yan was even more surprised than her, and awkwardly stopped in her tracks: "I thought you were asleep."
"What are you doing up in the middle of the night?" Qin Lan covered her yawn, feeling sleepy.
Jiang Yan knelt on the bed and moved closer to her, pulling the blanket up a little: "You go to sleep, I'll go outside for a while."
"Why are you going outside? We have filming tomorrow morning." Qin Lan yawned again, clearly annoyed.
Jiang Yan considered it for a while, thinking that there would be many more nights like this in the future, so she said, "I have some insomnia."
"You have insomnia?" Qin Lan frowned and sat up. "Insomnia at such a young age? Or is the pressure from the company too great?"
"It has nothing to do with the company, it's just that I have insomnia." Jiang Yan patted her head reassuringly, trying to tuck her back into the blanket: "You go to sleep, I'm going to go for a walk outside."
"Did you take your medicine?"
I didn't eat today.
She didn't have insomnia when she slept with Qin Lan last time; the experience was very good.
Qin Lan thought for a moment: "Take some medicine, then come upstairs and go to sleep. Otherwise, how will we film tomorrow?"
Jiang Yan gave in, took her medicine, and then sat on the opposite sofa, hugging her knees. Qin Lan, seeing this, felt uncomfortable and urged her, "Go sit on the bed."
Jiang Yan feigned modesty: "I'm afraid of disturbing you."
"Come here." Qin Lan's face fell, and her voice was very unhappy.
Jiang Yan obediently walked over, put a pillow behind her back, and waited for it to take effect.
"When did you start having insomnia?" Qin Lan asked sleepily.
"Before I changed companies, I had insomnia for a while."
Qin Lan closed her eyes and continued to sleep. This time, just as she was about to fall asleep, she vaguely felt the space beside her sink in. A soft woman moved her arm away, snuggled warmly into her arms, and then put her arm back in place.
This woman is quite obedient. Qin Lan thought drowsily before falling asleep.
＊
The next morning, when Xiaoqing came to wake her up, she was attacked again, but this time the shock was not as great as the last time, because at least the two of them were dressed.
"When you're free, go and ask her assistant to move her luggage upstairs. She'll be staying in the second bedroom from now on," Qin Lan said to Xiao Qing as she strolled out, a toothbrush in her mouth.
"Whose assistant? Whose luggage? Where did they move it from?" Xiaoqing asked three questions in a row.
Qin Lan: "Did you leave your brain at home last night?"
Xiaoqing: "No, Sister Qin, my dear sister, let me process this... Didn't you used to hate her the most? Why are you suddenly..."
“Being annoyed by her doesn’t stop me from sleeping in the same room with her.” Qin Lan said calmly, “Go pack your things for today, we’ll head to the film set later.”
Xiaoqing remained silent, Xiaoqing was shocked, Xiaoqing turned around.
"There's something else." Qin Lan called out to her, and while Jiang Yan was still changing in the dressing room, she quickly said, "From now on, you'll be Jiang Yan's assistant. If she needs anything, go and help her, understand?"
"What? Sister Qin, are you firing me?" Xiaoqing rushed over, tears welling in her eyes, and grabbed her arm. "No, Sister Qin, I can't bear to lose you! Without you, who will help me earn 15,000 a month..."
"This kid has really lost his mind." Qin Lan shook her head: "It's just giving you an extra job. Next month you can earn 20,000 yuan a month."
Xiaoqing immediately stopped crying, but began a new round of questioning: "Sister Qin, tell me honestly, are you planning to lower Jiang Yan's guard first, and then take the opportunity to get revenge on her? Sister Qin, listen to me, murder is illegal, stabbing is illegal, I—"
"Your most urgent task right now is to quit the tomato website," Qin Lan said irritably. "Can't we talk about this?"
Xiaoqing was stunned: "You're dating? What? Are you dating? Sister Qin, do you mean you're dating Jiang Yan?"
"I guess so." Qin Lan applied the facial cleanser evenly to herself.
"Sister Qin, are you running a fever?" Xiaoqing asked cautiously. "Why is that? Let me tell you, Sister Qin, relationships without genuine affection simply won't last..."
"Who told you I don't like her?" Qin Lan glanced at her sideways in the mirror: "Don't make wild guesses, go do your thing."
"So you like her?" Xiaoqing's eyes widened.
"No," Qin Lan said dismissively, "Let's hurry up, Jiang Yan will be here soon."
So, does it mean you like it or you don't?
Xiaoqing left with doubts about the truth of the universe.
"Good morning, Teacher Qin." Jiang Yan tiptoed over, hugged her waist from behind, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Good morning." Qin Lan's ears turned slightly red, and she deliberately shook her hair to cover them. "Go wash up quickly, I'll go downstairs first."
"Mmm." Jiang Yan unwrapped a new toothbrush and leaned against the side to squeeze toothpaste onto herself. Qin Lan quickly washed her face and hurried downstairs.
A large number of fans and paparazzi still gathered outside the hotel, and the moment Qin Lan appeared, they erupted in cheers. Amidst the sea of red, Qin Lan noticed many people gazing longingly at the green light sticks behind her, and some even booed her. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
She was even thinking of informing Jiang Yan's fans about their idol's schedule, such as "She'll be down in a bit," or "You hate me so much, you probably didn't expect she slept in my bed last night," and so on.
After getting on the bus, Qin Lan took out her phone and opened a group chat.
She sent the message in the middle of the night, and it's only 7 o'clock now, with over 99 messages in the group.
Yang Xingji: [?]
Yun Chui: [?]
Yu Jintang: [Haha! I expected this!]
Yun Chui: [Congratulations! Wishing you a long and happy marriage. Treat your spouse well.]
Hundreds of comments flooded the screen, all urging her to respond.
This is a chat that took place from midnight to early morning.
At 6:20 in the morning, Song Man, having just washed her face, logged on promptly: [?]
Song Man: [Didn't you hate her? ? ? ]
Song Man: [Can someone tell me what happened?]
Yu Jintang: [Old Song, this is the consequence of not surfing the internet; you didn't even know your older sister got married!]
Song Man: [I check my phone every day.]
Song Man: [What exactly happened??]
Song Man: [Then what about the days I spent helping you complain about Jiang Yan?]
Yang Xingji: [You're really something!]
Song Man: [And then you turned around and betrayed the revolution?]
Qin Lan, in a good mood, sent several emojis, her red lips curving into a charming smile: 【Never mind, we've already talked about it】
Yang Xingji replied instantly: [Sister Qin, what's wrong with you? Didn't you seem like you didn't want to talk to Yanyan last time?]
Song Man: [What did you call her?]
Qin Lan chuckled: "Last time was last time, this time is this time."
Song Man: [Oh no, she seems to be serious.]
Yang Xingji: [Aman, don't say that. Yanyan is a really nice person. You just haven't met her. You'll know once you do. Yanyan is super charming.]
Song Man: [Of course I've seen her! The last time I saw her, Qin Lan even came to complain about her to me!!]
Yang Xingji: [That means you haven't chatted with her. She's incredibly gentle, knows how to compliment people, and is very good at providing emotional support. In short, she's a really great person.]
Song Man: [Isn't this what you call green tea??]
Yu Jintang, always eager for drama, commented: "Old Qin, it seems someone has their eye on your girlfriend."
Qin Lan: [In short, we've talked, and I've notified everyone. Go on, guys, I'm on set.]
She put away her phone and walked into the film set with a smug look on her face.
＊
During Empress Dowager Wu's reign, she drastically changed names, from the eastern capital Luoyang to a single flag, giving everything a fresh look and bearing the imprint of the future Wu Zhou dynasty. The Secretariat and the Chancellery were renamed the Phoenix Pavilion and the Luan Terrace, and the rites, military, justice, and public works were named the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Wu Zetian frequently consulted the "Rites of Zhou," attempting to find a legitimate basis for her ascension to the throne in the long river of history.
Feng Manhong was always reading the "Old Book of Tang" and the "Rites of Zhou" on set, and she remained focused even during breaks. Her dedication inspired everyone else to work hard and catch up on the schedule.
"Teacher Feng, take a rest." A staff member brought over a plate of watermelon.
"Have you finished?" Feng Manhong sat in her chair, not even lifting her eyelids.
The staff member shuddered: "Uh... it's chilled."
"Is my rule truly unacceptable to Heaven and Earth?" Feng Manhong slightly raised her eyes, her expression somewhat weary, but her pupils radiated two captivating beams of light.
The staff member shuddered, put down the watermelon, and took a step back. Then, Feng Manhong stood up, her long robe fluttering in the wind, and recited to the heavens and earth: "I have assisted the late emperor for twenty-three years, diligently attending to state affairs, making wise judgments, and ensuring that the country has not suffered any losses. This throne is for anyone with ability. I am still strong and healthy. How can I retire to the deep palace and waste the rest of my life?"
Feng Manhong lowered her arms, slowly exhaled, and sat down in the chair. She pondered for a moment before noticing Yu Jintang standing not far away, arms crossed, watching her thoughtfully.
"Director Yu, come and have some watermelon." Feng Manhong smiled and waved to her.
Yu Jintang walked over and said, "Teacher Feng is the most natural actor I have ever seen. I have seen the other roles you have played, and they are completely different from Wu Zetian."
"It's a natural talent; I have a deep capacity for empathy." Feng Manhong wasn't modest at all, but her tone still carried the calm and serene composure that comes with years of experience, which in turn inspired awe. "Actually, this talent caused me a lot of trouble in my early years. I had so much difficulty getting out of character that I even went to see a psychologist."
"I've heard about it," Yu Jintang said. "It seems that Teacher Feng can now separate himself from his role."
“Hmm.” Feng Manhong smiled and said, “This rarely happened afterward. I only revert to my old habits when I encounter a character that I’m particularly interested in. But now, the problems that used to bother me are no longer shackles that bind me, but rather methods that help me fully immerse myself in the soul of the character.”
"I can tell, Teacher Feng is flattering me indirectly." Yu Jintang chuckled, her eyes hidden in the shadow of her baseball cap, only her row of white teeth standing out.
“It’s the truth.” Feng Manhong couldn’t help but smile, a youthful smile appearing between her faint crow’s feet. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come.”
“Yes, thank you, Teacher Feng.” Yu Jintang said earnestly, “The first person I want to thank when ‘The Era of Red Powder’ became a hit is Teacher Feng. You are the one who brought this production team back to life.”
"You flatter me." Feng Manhong waved her hand. "The book itself is very good."
“No.” Yu Jintang slowly shook his head: “I know very well that without Teacher Feng, we would most likely flop. There are very few people in the industry who can bring Wu Zetian to life.”
“But this is something we must do,” Feng Manhong said. “We all really want thousands upon thousands of Wu Wanpings to appear in this world.”
Yu Jintang squinted at the sunlight, and after a while said with some regret, "We should have filmed a scene of us toasting right now, the visual message of which would be: 'Everything is understood without words.'"
"It seems that Professor Yu prefers people who resonate with her."
“After all, I’m someone who prioritizes feelings above all else,” Yu Jintang shrugged.
"Let's go for a drink after the show," Feng Manhong said with a knowing smile.
She also needs to do some more research for a certain child.
Yu Jintang laughed too: "Great, looks like I have a drinking buddy again."
Wu Zetian's probing finally elicited a response. In 684 AD, Li Jingye, the prefect of Meizhou, raised the banner of overthrowing and installing the deposed Emperor Li Zhe, and launched a rebellion. The "Proclamation to the World on Behalf of Li Jingye," one of the two masterpieces of Tang poetry, spread throughout the land at this time. This poem, with its imposing momentum and coherent reasoning, made the talented scholar Luo Binwang famous throughout the land.
A copy was also placed on Empress Wu's desk, and the Empress Dowager personally read the entire text, even reciting it aloud.
"The usurper Wu, who falsely claims to rule, is neither gentle nor docile, and comes from a truly humble background..."
Feng Manhong wore a mocking smile, her voice rising even louder, as if she wanted everyone to hear: "Murdering her sister and brother, regicide and poisoning her mother, she is hated by both gods and men, intolerable to Heaven and Earth, yet she still harbors evil intentions and covets the divine throne..."
The extras resting nearby felt a chill run down their spines and couldn't help but want to speak up. But then Feng Manhong suddenly turned around, flicked her sleeve, and sneered with pride: "A spying artifact, well said! That's right!"
As she recited, her voice lowered, filled with a chilling emotion, "The soil on his grave is not yet dry, and his six-foot-tall orphan has nowhere to turn..."
"Who wrote this?" Empress Wu asked, her face showing shock.
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Luo Binwang of Wuzhou."
Empress Wu remained silent for a long time before letting out a long sigh: "How could the prime minister have lost such a person!"
As a result, the court was at peace, and Empress Wu once again demonstrated her composure in the face of danger, her eagerness to seek out talented people, and her broad-mindedness as an emperor.
Although the rebel army was powerful, Empress Wu had been involved in politics for many years and had already won over the hearts of the people. She usually benefited the people and promoted officials. Therefore, the people did not support Li Jingye, and officials at all levels stuck to their posts. Even Li Jingye's uncle secretly informed the Empress Dowager.
Empress Wu deployed her troops strategically, seizing their vital points, and the rebel army suffered a crushing defeat.
Empress Wu also created a special "box" to broaden channels for public opinion and ensure that the sentiments of the people could be conveyed to the emperor. During discussions about the plot, someone questioned, "Isn't this just a suggestion box?"
Qin Lan nodded in agreement: "That's what they say to the outside world anyway."
"But in reality, it was mainly an informant box," Jiang Yan continued. "The Zizhi Tongjian commented that 'as a result, informers from all directions sprang up,' leading to the reappearance of cruel officials."
"Do we really want to depict such dark content? Even Empress Wu Zetian wasn't always so wicked."
“I hope everyone understands that whether she did good or not is not what we want to express,” Yu Jintang said. “What we want to present is that in feudal society, there were three women who used their wisdom to reach the pinnacle of power, even if it meant using any means necessary.”
Another person asked, "Why not change it to a perfect and righteous persona, be appropriately ambiguous to cater to the audience who don't object, and avoid arousing strong resentment from the current mainstream? That way, it might become popular again."
"Because Director Yu wants to portray reality." Before Yu Jintang could speak, Feng Manhong spoke up. As soon as she spoke, everyone fell silent.
Qin Lan noticed that Feng Manhong glanced at Yu Jintang, her expression thoughtful: "It's about the reality of women. How women defeat all their enemies from a position of oppression, how they climb up step by step, how ambitious they are, how they conquer the world. There's no need to hide it; it should be as it is. It will naturally encourage countless confused women, in an era of awakened thought and claims of gender equality, to see where every woman who sees the reality of women should go."
In the ensuing silence, Jiang Yan clapped, her eyes filled with admiration. But the others remained bewildered, not only the men silent, but also many of the female staff and actors looking equally lost. The solitary applause was punctuated by the hum of the machinery. Qin Lan, realizing what was happening, immediately joined in the clapping.
Yu Jintang was the last to applaud; she gazed deeply at Feng Manhong, her eyes moist.
"Thank you." She stood up and bowed. "Thank you for staying here, whatever the reason, thank you for helping me finish photographing this notebook."
＊
"Don't you think there's a kind of magnetic field between Feng Yinghou and Yu Guaiguai? When did they become so close? And Feng Yinghou seems to understand Yu Guaiguai very well."
Back at the hotel, Qin Lan said to Jiang Yan, "And did you see? They were still there when we left."
“Yes, I noticed that too.” Jiang Yan nodded. “But the two of them give off a strange vibe. It doesn’t feel like love. If I had to describe it, I think it’s more like a comradeship or close friendship. They both spoke very supportively of women’s rights today.”
“That makes sense then.” Qin Lan nodded. “I never imagined that in real life, besides Yang Xingji and my mother, there would be such a profound and harmonious friendship between people of different ages.”
"You don't seem surprised at all, so why are you asking me?" Jiang Yan moved closer, ignoring the row of luggage leaning against the wall.
"If you have someone to chat with, then go ahead," Qin Lan said casually. "Go and pack your things, put them all away neatly, don't leave them lying around."
Jiang Yan picked up her suitcase and headed towards the master bedroom.
"Hey, hey, your room is over there." Qin Lan leaned against the door frame: "Who told you to go to that room?"
"Can't I sleep with Teacher Qin?" Jiang Yan turned around, looking quite aggrieved. "Didn't we sign a contract?"
Qin Lan coldly refused: "Don't even think about it."
She had great difficulty falling asleep last night. How could she film if Jiang Yan slept in her bed every day?
"Alright then," Jiang Yan said dejectedly. Just as she was about to turn around, Qin Lan said again, "Let me play with your phone."
"So you're already checking up on me?" Jiang Yan smiled and took out her phone. "Want to guess the password?"
"Could it be my birthday?" Qin Lan muttered to herself, quickly typing in her birthday, but it showed an error.
Qin Lan was still a little disappointed, but Jiang Yan smiled and said, "You need to add '520' in front of it."
"Oh." Qin Lan's mood instantly brightened, and she painstakingly pursed her lips to prevent them from turning up. "Go have some fun."
"Then I'll check in. Teacher Qin, take your time with the investigation." Jiang Yan blinked and started packing her things. Qin Lan, wearing slippers, walked to the bed, collapsed onto her back, and unlocked Jiang Yan's phone.
————————!!————————
The historical facts depicted in the play within a play are all based on the Old and New Books of Tang.
The portrayals of Wu Zetian, Princess Taiping, and Shangguan are based on historical facts, with some artistic embellishment.
Sometimes it's unnecessary to be fixated on faithfulness to history, because history isn't necessarily faithful to the facts. We will never truly know what kind of people these individuals were in real history. Later historians have often smeared Wu Zetian, resulting in many blemishes or misinterpretations, but at least the positive historical facts should indeed exist.
Finally, I want to say that we shouldn't use morality as the highest standard for evaluating historical figures. If we judge history solely by morality, we will overlook the diverse and wonderful aspects of human nature. Because life is not completed by morality, but by exploring one's limits as much as possible. Admittedly, they were extravagant and greedy, but we should also admire their ambition and unwillingness to be inferior to others. What we should value is not their scandals, but that amidst the feudal ethics that imposed on women, such as "the hen crowing at dawn" and "the husband being the head of the household," one woman stood up from countless women who were content to play supporting roles and uttered an unprecedented declaration: "The sun and moon shine brightly in the sky."
Her contemporary, Shangguan Wan'er, also known as Princess Taiping, shone brightly during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, writing a remarkable legend as a female prime minister and a scheming princess.
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